Patent Application
20140070491
The present invention relates generally to games of skill and chance, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for playing a skill game utilizing a tethered ball.
Various games have been played by individuals and groups for entertainment, enjoyment, and competition. Many such games are known that involve elements of skill and/or elements of chance, and which may be designed to simulate elements or the play of other games. Games heretofore known have not adequately provided a simulation of elements found in a round of golf. A need therefore exists for a skill game that can be played by individuals or groups, and which simulates elements of a golf game without requiring a large playing area or extensive equipment to play the game.
The present invention provides a game that can be enjoyed by individuals or teams, and which involves both elements of skill and of chance. In one aspect, the game simulates elements of a golf game, but does not require extensive equipment or a large playing field. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for playing a skill game includes a generally vertically extending tube having a first, lower end; a second, upper end; and an axially extending passage. At least one outlet is located proximate the first, lower end of the tube. A play ball is supported by a flexible tether for swinging movement in a direction toward a scoring ball supported on the tube. The apparatus further includes a first receptacle for receiving the scoring ball if the scoring ball is appropriately struck by the play ball when a player swings the play ball in a direction toward the scoring ball supported on the tube.
In one embodiment, a boom is coupled proximate the second end of the tube. A distal end of the boom extends outwardly from the tube and supports the play ball on the tether such that the tether and play ball are spaced from the tube. In another aspect, the apparatus for playing the skill game may include first and second outlets. The apparatus may further include second and third receptacles positioned proximate the first and second outlets, respectively, for receiving the scoring ball if the play ball fails to strike the scoring ball and knock it into the first receptacle.
In another aspect, a method of playing a skill game includes supporting a scoring ball on a generally vertically extending tube, and directing a play ball supported on a tether in a direction toward the scoring ball in an attempt to strike the scoring ball and knock the scoring ball into a first receptacle. The method may further include determining a score after attempting to strike the scoring ball with the play ball, wherein the score is determined based on whether the play ball missed the scoring ball, or whether the scoring ball was knocked into the first receptacle.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The apparatus 10 further includes a play ball 30 supported on a flexible tether 32, such that a player 34 can swing the play ball 30 in a direction toward the scoring ball 22. In the embodiment shown, the tether 32 is coupled to a boom 36 extending from the second, upper end 18 of the main tube 12, in a direction generally radially outwardly from the tube 12. In this embodiment, the boom 36 is coupled to the tube 12 by an elbow fitting 38, such that the boom 36 extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the tube 12. The boom 36 may comprise a single member or, as depicted herein, may comprise several members 36a, 36b coupled together to facilitate adjusting the position of the tether 32 relative to the tube 12 and/or to facilitate disassembly of the boom 36 for storage and/or transportation of the apparatus 10 when not in use.
In the embodiment shown, the tether 32 is coupled at a first end 40 to a ring or eye-hook 42 secured proximate the distal end of the boom 36 by a fastener 44. The play ball 30 is coupled to the second end 46 of the tether 32, whereby the play ball 30 may be swung in a direction toward the tube 12 and scoring ball 20 as will be described herein below. While the tether 32 supporting the play ball 30 is shown herein coupled to a boom 36 that extends from the second end 18 of the tube 12, it will be appreciated that the tether 32 may alternatively be coupled to other structure to allow swinging movement of the play ball 30 in a direction toward the scoring ball 20. For example, the tether 32 may alternatively be coupled to a separate stand, to a portion of a building such as a ceiling or wall, or to any other structure suitable to support the play ball 30 for swinging movement in a direction toward the scoring ball 20.
With continued reference to
At least one outlet 54, 56 is provided at the first, lower end 14 of the tube 12, through which the scoring ball 20 may exit the tube 12 in accordance with another aspect of the game. In the embodiment shown, two outlets 54, 56 are provided for additional scoring options and to add an element of chance to the game. The first and second outlets 54, 56 are provided by a double-Y (Wye) fitting 58 coupled proximate the first end 14 of the main tube 12, as depicted in
Various components of the apparatus 10 may be assembled from plastic pipe components, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe, or from any other material suitable to form the apparatus 10. Moreover, components such as the main tube 12 and boom 36 may comprise single members, or may comprise multiple members joined together to form the components. Advantageously, when the components comprise multiple members joined together in an easily separable fashion, the apparatus 10 may be disassembled for convenient storage and/or transportation when not in use.
The exemplary apparatus 10 described above may be used to play one or more games. In one embodiment of a game in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a player 34 grasps the play ball 30 supported by the tether 32 and stands at a predetermined location to begin play, as depicted in
The apparatus 12 may further include a deflector 80 proximate the first end 14 of the tube 12 to deflect the scoring ball 20 toward one of the first or second outlets 54, 56. In the embodiment shown, the deflector 80 comprises a ball, such as a tennis ball or a racquet ball for example, having an outer diameter sufficiently large enough to allow the ball to be lodged securely within the double-Y fitting 58 at a position that permits the scoring ball 20 to fall into one of the first or second branches 62, 64 of the fitting 58 and thereby deflect the scoring ball 20 toward one of the first or second outlets 54, 56. While the deflector 80 is shown and described herein as a ball, it will be appreciated that the deflector 80 may alternatively comprise various other structure suitable for deflecting the scoring ball 20 toward one of the first or second outlets 54, 56.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus 12 may be used to play a game that simulates elements of a round of golf. In accordance with this aspect, the game may be played, as described above, by swinging the play ball 30 in a direction toward the scoring ball 20 supported in the first aperture 22, and a score is given to the player 34 based on whether the scoring ball 20 is knocked into the first, second, or third receptacles 48, 66, 68. More specifically, the first receptacle 48 may represent the cup on a golf green and, upon successfully knocking the scoring ball 20 into the first receptacle 48, the player 34 is awarded a score of one stroke. Alternatively, if the scoring ball 20 is instead knocked through the axial passage 26 of the tube 12, the player 34 is given a score of either two strokes or three stokes, depending upon whether the scoring ball 20 exits the first outlet 54 or the second outlet 56. Specifically, the second receptacle 66 adjacent the first outlet 54 may be filled with sand (or otherwise indicated to represent a sand hazard), and the third receptacle 68 adjacent the second outlet 56 may be filled with water (or otherwise indicated to represent a water hazard). If the scoring ball 20 exits the first outlet 54 and is received in the second receptacle 66 (sand hazard), the player 34 is given a score of two strokes. Alternatively, if the scoring ball 20 exits the second outlet 56 and is received in the third receptacle 68 (water hazard), the player 34 is given a score of three strokes. If the player 34 fails to contact the scoring ball 20 after three attempts, the player 34 is given a score of four strokes. The object of the game in this embodiment is to obtain the lowest score possible for all rounds played. It will be appreciated that the game according to this embodiment may be played by one or more players, and multiple players may play individually or in teams. The winner of a round during a multi-player game is the player or team that has the lowest score at the end of the total number of holes played.
The exemplary game described above represents only one of many possible variations of games that may be played using the apparatus 10. It will be appreciated that various other games and variations may alternatively be played using an apparatus 10 in accordance with the principles of the invention.
While base 16a is shown and described with respect to
The second branch 104 of the double-cross fitting 100 defines the second aperture 52b through which the scoring ball 20 supported in the first aperture 22b may be viewed by a player 34, as described above. In this embodiment, the first receptacle 48b may be coupled proximate the second aperture 52b by a fastener 108 secured through a sidewall of the second branch 104 of the double-cross fitting 100. Various other features and functions of the apparatus 10b may be similar to those described above with respect to apparatus 10 of
While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept.
